Paste dispensing apparatus



May 2, 1933.

W. D. BELL PASTE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1951 INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNITE, rA Es ILLIAM I). B LL, or COLUMBUS, OHIO EASTE DISPENSING APPARATUS Application filed June 15,

My invention relates to paste dispensing apparatus. it has to do particularly with anapparatusfor dispensing tooth pastes and shaving creams, et cetera, being particularly useful in removing such paste from collap-' sible tubes'such as are commonly used for the marketing of such pastes. However, i will be understood that it is capable of Wider use. i

In-the prior art, the use of paste filled tubes for dispensing such pastes is attended with certain more or less annoying drawbacks. For example, one of the common diliiculties is the tendency towards breakage of the walls of these collapsible tubes and consequently leakage of the material therefrom through openings other than the opening normally provided for delivery. Another common dis-- advantage arises from the common custom of rollingthe tube which is ordinarily attended by the production of numerous irregular creases and difficulty of producing a smoothl v rolled collapsed tube. Another common disadvantage arises from the frequent loss of the caps normally provided with these tubes.

A still further disadvantage arises from the necessity of removing and replacing the cap whenever it is desired to remove the paste therefrom, two hands being required for this operation which necessitates the laying of a brush such as a tooth brush to one side during the performance of this operation.

One of the objects of my invention is to obviate these various disadvantages. I Another'object of my invention is to provide a simple mechanism which may, if desired, be permanentlylocated and may be actuated for the removal of paste fromthe tube from time to time as desired. Another object of my invention is to provide adevice for extracting the paste from the tube of such anature that the material may be extracted in more or less accurately measured charges with a consequent reduction in the waste of the materialin the tube.

My invention preferably contemplates the provision of a means which may be. applied to the outletend of a tube of the type in question and may thereafter be manipulated to extract the material from the tube by a. euc- 1931. Seria1'No.544,298. V

tion process. It preferably comprises a tubular chamber which is designed to be connected to the outlet opening of the tube and which is provided with a means for creating suction within the chamber for drawing the 7 material from the tube into such chamber, together with a means for discharging this material to a'point where it may be readily placed upon a brushor other surface.

More specifically, my invention contemplates the provision ofa chamber connected with the outlet opening of a tubeof the type in question, this chamberhaving a plunger operating therein which may be actuated as desired to create a suctionwithin the chambenand draw the material from the tube into such chamber. Means is also provided in connection with this apparatus for forcing the material outwardly through a delivery opening to a point where it may readilybe 7' placed upon a brush or other surface. Likewise, my invention preferablycontemplates the provision of a readily removable and replaceable closure cap which operates when placed in its closing position to position the plunger so that it-will'automaticallyoperate to expel the paste upon the removal of the closure. V

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing so wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of one form of my apparatus with a collapsible tube shown connected s5 therewith. r

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal, section of the apparatus shOWn in Figure 1, with the upper portion of a collapsible tube shown connected thereto and with the closure in closing position. I

.Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the full tube of paste shown carried thereby and with the closure shown removed so that the paste is being expelled therefrom.

In the drawing, my apparatus is shown as comprising abase member 1 which is of. an nular form and which is provided with aper tures 2 for the reception of screws or similardevices for securing it to Waller other surface. This base member 1 is preferably provided with an integrally formed outstanding member 3 of tubular form so that there is provided upon the interior thereof the tubular chamber 4.

This cylindrical portion 3 has its outer end reduced to form a neck v5 having a bore 6 whichextends to the outer extremity thereof and which communicates at its inner end with the tubular chamber 4. The member 3 is further provided upon its underside with a downwardly extending integral and internally threaded member 7 of cylindrical form. This downwardly extending member 7 ofcylindrical form communicates with the tubular chamber 4 through the medium of duct 8.

Operating within the tubular chamber 4 of the member3 is a hollow plunger 11 and within this chamber is seated a coil spring 12 whose opposite end bears against a disk 14. The disk 14 has a shoulder 15 on its outer periphery which cooperates with a shoulder 16 in a counterbore 17. The disk 14 is preferably held in position by an expanding ring 18 which fits in a groove 19 in the wall of the bore '17. The outer periphery of the plunger 11 is preferably provided witha plurality of spaced annular grooves 20 which ultimately become filled with paste and form' aseal between the outer walls of the plunger and the inner wall of the'tubular chamber 4, although these walls are normally in close sliding contact.

The outer-or forward-end of the plunger 11 preferably provided with a circular recess 21 within which is designed to seat the foot 22 of a tubular stem 23 which normally rests within the bore 6 of the neck 5 and is reciprocable therein. This stem is provided with an inlet opening 23a. It automatically centers itself and avoids binding because of the fact that it merely rests within the seat 21 of,

the plunger and is not connected thereto. This stem is further provided on its outer periphery with annular grooves 24 which likewise become filled with paste to form a seal in supplement .to the tight sliding fit of this stem in its bore.

Designed for cooperation with the neck 5 and the stem 23 is a closure 25 which is in the form of a cap having a hollowrportion 26 and a head'27, the hollow portion being provided at its base with a cork or other resilient d 2 As shown in Figure 1, the cap 25 is provided adjacent its inner end with a bayonet slot 29 which is designed for cooperation with a pin 30 carried upon the outer lower surface of the neck 5.

The lower end of the depending cylindrical portion is preferably beveled as at 81 and may be supplemented by a washer 32'. However, it is not absolutely necessary that this washer be utilized.

' In operation, a tubular container A with an externally threaded outlet neck is placed in position by threading this outlet neck into the internal threads of the member 7. This places the delivery opening of the tubular container in alignment with the opening 8 leading into the tubular chamber 4. The cap 25 may then be removed and the plunger 11 .reciprocated several times by the application of pressure to the stem 28. This results in the expulsion of the air Within this stem and in the passage of the paste into the tubular chamber 4 in front of the plunger and then through the stem 23 as shown in Figure 3. This paste may then be used and the replacing of the cap in the position shown in Figure 2 serves both to seal the opening in the stem and to force the plunger rearwardly creating a partial vacuum in the chamber 4 so that, as the openingor port 8 is uncovered by the movement of the plunger 11, atmospheric pressure action upon the paste'within the'container A causes paste to fill the void in chamber 4'and place the device in readiness for automatic discharge of another charge of paste. It will be understood that theoreation of this suction in the manner indicated serves to collapse the tube gradually as'the contents thereof are extracted in successive charges. r

It will ,be seen from this that I have provided an extremely simple device which may be applied to the upper end of a collapsible paste tube'and which :may be manipulated as desired to extract successive charges of paste therefror'nQ 'Obviously,- this device may be modified to render itapplicable to paste tubes which are provided with other forms of closures, as in the case of pivoted closures orthe like. It will also be obvious that the device maybe mounted directly upon a tube instead ofbeing upon a wall or other surface Also, other modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention, in which atmospheric pressure may be utilized to feed the contents to the dispensing device.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: v I

1. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed 1 for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem reciprocable by said piston and projecting'through a wall of said cylinder, said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof whereby the reciprocation of said piston will draw paste into said cylinder and expel it through said stem.

2. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising acylinder, means for connecting the interior of said cylinder to the interior of the tube, a piston operable in said cylinder, a stem operable by said piston and projecting through a wall of said cylinder, and a closure operable when placed in position to position the piston in readiness for the delivery operation.

8. A device for extracting paste from a,

collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem projecting through one wall of said cylinder, said stem being operable by said piston and having one end adapted to seat in a socket in said piston, and a closure for the outer end of said stem.

4. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem projecting through one wall of said cylinder and operable by said piston, and a closure for the outer end of said stem, said closure being operative to position the stem and piston in readiness for delivery operation upon the application of the closure to the device.

5. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem projecting through one wall of said cylinder and operable by said piston, a resilient means tending to move said piston and stem towards delivery position, and a closure operable when placed in position to position said piston and stem in readiness for a delivery stroke.

6. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, and a hollow stem projecting through one wall of said cylinder, said stem having annular grooves on its exterior designed to accumulate paste as a sealing medium.

7 A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a vertically disposed neck designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, a horizontally disposed cylinder, a duct for establishing communication between said neck and said cylinder. one end of said cylinder being provided with a removable disk having an air passage therein, a hollow piston operating in said cylinder, a spring disposed in said piston and cylinder and having one end contacting with the closed outer end of the piston and the other end contacting with said removable disk, and tending to force said piston outwardly, a hollow stem having its inner end adapted to seat into a socket formed in the outer end of said piston, said hollow stem being operable by said piston and'projecting through an opening in theouter wall of said cylinder, said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof whereby reciprocation of said piston will draw paste into the cylinder and expel it through said stem.

8. A device for extracting paste'from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem operable by said piston but being disconnected therefrom, one end of said hollow stem being adapted to seat in a socket formed in one end of said piston, said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof whereby the reciprocation of said piston will draw paste into said cylinder and expel it through said stem.

9. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein,a cylinder into which said ductleads, a hollow piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem operable by said piston and projecting through a wall of said cylinder, said stem being adapted to seat in a socket formed in.

said piston but being disconnected therefrom,

said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof whereby reciprocation of said piston will draw paste into said cylinder and expel it through said stem, said stem and said piston having annular grooves on their outer surfaces designed to accumulate paste as a sealing medium.

10. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein,a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem operable by said piston and projecting through a wall of said cylinder, said stem being adapted to seat in a socket formed in said piston but being disconnected therefrom, said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof whereby reciprocation of said system will draw paste into said cylinder and expel it through said stem, said stem and said piston having annular grooves on their outer surfaces designed to accumulate paste as a sealing medium, and means for securing said device to a wall 0 suitable support.

11. A device for extracting paste from a collapsible tube comprising a means designed for connection to the outlet end of the tube, said means having a duct therein, a cylinder into which said duct leads, a piston operating in said cylinder, a hollow stem operable by said piston and projecting through a wall of said cylinder, said stem being adapted to seat in a socket formed in'said piston but being disconnected therefrom, said stem having an inlet into the interior thereof, a c 10- sure eperable when placed in position on the outer end of said cylinder to position the piston and the hollow stem in readiness for (lei-W013 posit-ion.

In testimony whereof, I hereby ,affix my signature.

VILLTAM D. BELL. 

